A grandad who was twice brought back from the brink of death says he feels “hammered” by the system after a benefits double whammy.

Billy Scott, 57, has been hit by the bedroom tax and fears he could have to leave the home he has lived in all his life.

And after suffering two cardiac arrests, he was told by Atos inspectors that he was fit to work – even though he claims his own doctor said any physical could kill him – and wasn’t eligible for employment support allowance.

Billy, 57, was forced to retire from working as a council lorry driver and a retained firefighter because of ill health.

He said: “I keep getting turned down for benefits and now with the bedroom tax kicking in, it is even worse.

“I just want people to see how the working man who has paid into the system all his days is now being hammered by it.”

Billy, of Mauchline, Ayrshire, was earning almost £40,000 a year before his illness.

Now he and wife Rose, 60, struggle to get by on his weekly work pension of £100 and £50 disability living allowance.

The dad of one gets housing benefit for his four-bedroom council house but it was cut by a quarter because of the bedroom tax and he has to make up the shortfall.

He said: “I was born in this house and have lived here all my life.

“I was sent a letter by East Ayrshire Council saying I owed £1000. Rose and I managed to claw that back by keeping the heating off and things like that. But the council still say we owe them £33.”

Billy was saved by firefighters Andy Reid and John Sharpe who used a defibrillator to revive him at work in 2009. He had a second cardiac arrest weeks later.

After giving up work, Billy tried to claim employment support allowance. He said: “I went to be tested by Atos in 2011 and 2012 but they said I was fit to work.

“My doctor went ballistic. He said any exercise or physical activity would kill me. I lost the appeal but I did eventually get disability living allowance.”

Yesterday, Atos said they did not comment on individual cases but added: “We don’t make benefit decisions nor are we involved in the appeals process.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “A decision on whether someone is well enough to work is taken after a thorough assessment and consideration of all the medical evidence.”

East Ayrshire Council said bedroom tax regulations were set nationally and they have “no discretion”.

Last month, in the wake of tireless campaigning by the Daily Record and other groups, the Scottish Government announced they would effectively banish the bedroom tax by finding millions to subsidise affected tenants.

And last week, the Record reported Atos fit-to-work assessments were being scrapped by the DWP.